Catasetum is very shriveled but roots are still forming; can I give it a drink?

[ccole93]

I’ve been waiting but the pseudo bulb is very shriveled now and it seems like growth has slowed some.

[DirtyCoconuts]

How can you tell the roots are not long?

I would water that. At least a bit.

Full watering soon

[fishmom]

It looks like the plant is in moss. You might try watering from the bottom--put the pot in a saucer with water for a half an hour or so. The moss will pull up water and distribute it throughout the pot, avoiding over-wetting of the new root area.

[camille1585]

What several people here have done with their plants is to give a small amount of water (tbsp or so) on the opposite side of the plant as the new growth. This keeps the new roots dry, but gives some moisture to the old bulbs if they are looking really shriveled.

[DeaC]

All of my pbulbs look the same as yours, maybe even worse. I use the spray bottle, spritz 2-3x only and plan on reg. waterings by end of May perhaps some repotting. Clear pots are the best for observing root growth. Check out Sunset Valley Orchids - Superior Hybrids for Orchid Enthusiasts. Fred Clarke is a premier grower with xcellent culture info.

[ccole93]

It’s in a clear pot but I can’t see any roots coming through the media. I did give it a tablespoon of water but there are still new roots coming from the pseudobulb so feel like it needs more time? I see one root far down the pot but most of them seem to be buried in the media.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by ccole93

It’s in a clear pot but I can’t see any roots coming through the media. I did give it a tablespoon of water but there are still new roots coming from the pseudobulb so feel like it needs more time? I see one root far down the pot but most of them seem to be buried in the media.

"Buried in the media" is fine - if it is growing roots in the middle of the pot not the edges, I think it's time to gently start watering. Over the next 2 weeks or so you can increase it, and then you'll be off and running. The pot is fairly large relative to the plant, so there's plenty of room for the roots to hide. I think that you can safely assume that they're present.

[ccole93]

Ok! Should I start by bottom watering a bit at a time or do a certain amount?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by ccole93

Ok! Should I start by bottom watering a bit at a time or do a certain amount?

I just water from the top. For a start, enough to get the surface wet. If you want to be on the safe side, start the watering around the sides of the pot rather than where the roots likely are... they will sense the presence of the water, probably grow toward it. My Fdk. After Darks (I have 2 of them, different cultivars) become root machines. The one thing you DON'T want to do is to get water into the middle of the new growth - once it opens out that won't be a problem but while it's still a rolled-up tube, you don't want to trap water in that pocket.

[ccole93]

Thank you so much!!! I will try around the edges for a week and move inward then.